Accused drug syndicate mastermind Elie Khoury applies for bail a year after being taken into custody

The alleged mastermind at the centre of a “mammoth” interstate drug syndicate trial has asked for bail again as a court hears his case could be over a year away.

The alleged mastermind behind a drug trafficking and money laundering syndicate operating between Sydney and Adelaide could spend three years behind bars before even getting to trial, a court has heard.

Elie Khoury, 34, is facing five charges of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and two counts of money laundering.

He had been in custody for almost a year following his arrest in late September 2020.

But on Thursday Michael Abbott QC, for Mr Khoury, said his client faced the prospect of waiting up to another two years in prison before the “mammoth trial” could be heard.

While Mr Khoury application for home detention bail was adjourned until later in the month, Mr Abbott said it was appropriate to make the order.

“The time has come for this man to get bail,” he told Magistrate Simon Smart.

The court heard any trial of Mr Khoury and his multiple co-accused was unlikely to be listed for trial before the second half of 2023.

Mr Abbott said bail had previously been refused because of the likelihood of additional, serious charges.

“Those charges have since been laid and then withdrawn,” he said.

One of a series of firearms found at a property allegedly linked to the syndicate. Picture: SAPOL

Mr Smart noted the matter had been in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for more than a year and had yet to be committed to the District Court for either trial of sentencing submissions.

During the same hearing Abdul Minaoui, 46, from Chester Hill, NSW, had his bail varied so he could work in his brother’s northern suburbs pizza bar.

Mr Khoury is accused of being the brains behind a criminal syndicate which laundered $4 million through betting accounts at a rate of approximately $100,000 a week.

Police allege the syndicate started to come unstuck when a semi-trailer was stopped at Truro on September 4 last year.

Officers found $228,000 in the cab and 39kg of cannabis secreted in the side of the trailer.

Mr Minaoui who was driving the truck was arrested and charged with five counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and two counts of knowingly engage in money laundering.

Mr Minaoui’s brother Ezeddinn, 36, was arrested in Sydney and extradited to Adelaide where he was charged with same offences.

A jetski found at a property allegedly linked to the syndicate. Picture: SAPOL

A car found at a property allegedly linked to the syndicate. Picture: SAPOL

During an earlier bail hearing the court heard Mr Khoury was serving parole and was on home detention when he was arrested for the new drug charges on September 21.

The District Court froze a Waterloo Corner home linked to Mr Khoury as well as the semi trailer linked to the Minaoui brothers and several quantities of cash.

On October 15, police raided a Virginia property belonging to Peter John Stevens, 34, and his parents Michael, 55, and Stella, 57.

All three have been charged in relation to the syndicate.

Additionally Martin Furdan, 40, and Katie Elain Ambaras, 27, both from Waterloo Corner were charged with trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

Senan Solaka, was charged with knowingly engaging in money laundering.

The eight accused will appear in court again in December where they are expected to enter pleas to the charge.